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I have been trying for awhile to get my new Win 70 Extreme Weather 264 to shoot the Barnes 127 gr ( BC .468 ) 6.5 LRX bullet. Using the ultra slow burners like VV 24N41, Rel 33, US 869, & Retumbo .They shoot C&C bullets accurately with good velocity , but not the Barnes 6.5 127gr LRX. I have in the past seen faster burning powders shoot the mono's better. Switching to IMR 7828 long cut was like flipping a switch. With a starting load of 60 grs I got a 1" group. Raising the load to a max of 62.5 & seating the bullet deeper to an OAL of 3.216" I got under 1/2". MV according to my chrono is 3354 with very small shot to shot variation. I use just two once fired Win brand cases with CCI mag primers. After firing both cases a total of six more times each I still had tight primer pockets & neck sized only thru the entire shoot, never needing the FL sizer. All loading was done by my decades old Pacific brand dies on my old first year production RCBS RockChucker press. After all 100yd shooting was done I went to my 522yd target. Elevation here at my place is 7630'. At 522yds I got about 24" of drop. Sea level drop tables show about 30" of drop at 500 yd. Elevation does make a difference. I have had total 100% success with the Barnes bullets on elk & wanted to stick with them.

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Sweet! Just how "new" is this EW .264? Last I read, you had a .270...did you find another one? They seem to be accurate rifles. My old buddy down in East Tx still uses his 24" early '70s Mod 700 in .264WM. He has never used it on anything bigger than hogs, deer are his most popular hunt. He has shot a few close to 300yds but one of his boys shot a buck with it over 400yds, down a pipeline R.O.W. 140s is all he has ever shot out of his rifle too. He has always used factory or handloads that a friend of ours loaded for him. I loaded his some Speer 140HC in the mid 80's, but I don't remember the powder...I "want" to say it was H870.

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I have actually been shooting the 264 since 1964. I have a Rem 700 in 264 I bought new back in 1964. Still shoots great & has taken to many deer to remember, Also a considerable amount of elk. No pigs around this country. I have four 264 mags. The Extreme Weather I mentioned in the post is my newest , acquired last fall. It shoots just about any C&C bullet from 100 gr to 140 gr great. I plan on using it for elk this coming season. That is why I wanted to get an accurate load with the Barnes mono.These 6.5 mono's have never failed me on elk. As I stated I finally hit upon an accurate load with good velocity. 3354 fps with the 127gr LRX. I mentioned the load in case other owners of this same EW 264 caL wanted to use this bullet. Thought it might help establish a starting point. The 270 I talked about before is also an excellent performer.. Driving the Barnes 129gr LRX to 3259 fps according to my chrono. Like the 264 EW this 270 also gives tiny groups . It has ( 270 ) displayed the ability to perform with excellent accuracy out to my 522 yd target. I bought the 270 because it was a CRF 24" bbl. stainless Win. Like new & stamped " Made in New Haven Conn. USA.

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Got it. Does the EW .264 have a 26" barrel or also a 24"? So far, the only 6.5 I've really hunted with was the 24" 6.5/284 set up on a short action. I only wanted to use the lighter bullets as I saw this rifle as a combination predator/deer rifle. I only used the 120NBT and the 125 Partition. I got a solid 3200fps with both. It was a real killer on deer and antelope. My only gripe is the sharp shoulder made it very hard to feed right. The last round in the magazine would also fly out of the rifle! It ticked me off one too many times...I don't suffer unreliable rifles! smile At one time I gave considerable thought to a 6.5/280 AI or a 6.5 Sherman....then I ended up with this great shooting Mod 700 .270! I don't think I could tell any difference in the field between it and a good 6.5, at least at the ranges I hunt/shoot.

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I have a 6.5-06 24" Bbl that feels the same in my hands as my Win 270 24" Bbl. The 6.5 drives the Barnes 120grb TSX @ 3277 fps. The 270 drives the Barnes 129gr LRX @ 3259. Both are a delight to shoot. My 522yd target doesn't stand a chance from either one. Only problem is you can only hunt with one rifle at a time. Then there are the other rifles that are also great. Have taken considerable game with all except for the newly acquired 270 & Win EW. My 264's are,,, well I could go on. An accurate rifle is wonderful. Love squeezing that trigger......

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I have and use a model 70 EW 264 and it has a 26" barrel. Rifle was new in 2015. I have used the 127LRX and found the rifles best accuracy with Ramshot Magnum powder with a Federal 215M primer. I shot a cow elk in 2016 and the bullet didn't work to my expectations so I abandoned it for Swift Siroccos. I still find the best accuracy with Ramshot Magnum powder.

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. I've always had outstanding success with the 6.5 Barnes .Have been using them since the original X bullet. Always complete penetration even thru bone even on acute angle shots, Has worked for me year after year. on elk. Never fail me yet. Have used them on elk with the 6.5x08 wildcat , 6.5x55 6.5-06 & 264.

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That seems like a very hot load

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I picked up a new Winchester M70 EW in .264WM over the Winter. I am in the middle of developing my first load for it. I am starting with Barnes TSX 120 gn bullets and Retumbo powder. Thanks for the head's-up on IMR 7828 working well with mono-bullets in the .264WM. I'll try that powder, next. There's not a lot of .264WM shooters, so hearing about someone's personal experience is very helpful.

"Switching to IMR 7828 long cut was like flipping a switch. " -- 7828 is available in three different cuts. Any particular reason to go specifically with the long cut? Would the SC or SSC cuts give similar results?

Regarding my own experience, so far, shooting a ladder with Retumbo/TSX 120 gn, there appears to be a node at 3475 fps with 68.5 gn, and another one at 3375 fps with 66.5. There are nodes at lower velocities, too, but who cares about those? There is some primer flow at these two loads (as discussed extensively in http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/pressure-signs-primer-flow.3981384/ ), but no pressure signs on the case itself, nor a sticky bolt.

I started with the Barnes recommended jump of 0.050", and will test other sitting depths, next. After finding the best COAL, I'll finally shoot my first group with the rifle to see what she'll do.


[Linked Image]

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I used the Long Cut IMR 7828 because that is what I have in my inventory. SC should give the same velocity.
Hey "shinbone" would very much like to hear about your results with Retumbo & the Barnes 120gr TSX as I had poor accuracy results with that powder in my EW.. Like you said nice to hear about results from other 264 shooters. As a bit of information I have another 264 1/9 twist that shoots the Barnes mono's with the slower powders like Retumbo wit excellent accuracy.

Last edited by Hesp; 06/18/19.
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"Hey "shinbone" would very much like to hear about your results with Retumbo & the Barnes 120gr TSX as I had poor accuracy results with that powder in my EW."

Since you asked . . .

This is a Excel graph of my results, so far. Load info is in the title. Two shots averaged for each data point. Thick line is the point-of-impact above point-of-aim for each powder charge, i.e., the basic ladder data. Thin line is the velocity measured with a Labradar. Ignore the squares, as they have little meaning since they are just two-shot "groups." This graph suggests a few good nodes, including one at 65.7 gn, another at 66.7 gn, and maybe one at 68.7 gn. I did not see pressure signs at the highest load, although I am a newbie at reading such things. Next step is to shoot different COALs at probably 66.7 gn.


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Your velocity looks good which corresponds to my results with Retumbo & the 120gr TSX. Would like to see how your rifle groups with this load. Mine grouped poorly with this powder/bullet combo. With 7828 I got a similar velocity but with sub 1/2" groups. Different barrel vibrations???

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Originally Posted by Hesp
Your velocity looks good which corresponds to my results with Retumbo & the 120gr TSX. Would like to see how your rifle groups with this load. Mine grouped poorly with this powder/bullet combo. With 7828 I got a similar velocity but with sub 1/2" groups. Different barrel vibrations???


Barring any interruptions/bad weather, I will shoot the seating depth test this Friday. The Chargemaster Lite is on right now, warming up to load the ammo for Friday's range session.

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Sounds great shinbone. Will be looking forward to your results.. I realize every rifle can be different , even the same brand. . My son & me both have Ruger stainless Hawkeye rifles in 264 mag. His shoots the 120gr TSX Barnes great with Rel 33 @ about 3440 out of it's 24". Mine shoots terrible groups with Rel 33, but ting groups with IMR 7828. Go figure..I will be re sighting in my EW tomorrow as I am replacing the scope rings with "Quick Release " style . Have my own range. Wish you were closer . Think it would be enjoyable working together on this project

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Yes, us .264WM shooters need to stick together in working with the forgotten "best magnum ever."

Ammo is all loaded and just waiting for Friday. Chosen powder load is 66.7 gn of Retumbo - seems like a good node right there. It will be 3 shots at each jump distance, with jump ranging from .030 to .070 in .005 steps. Starting with 3-shot groups is to minimize wear and tear on the barrel until I find a good load. If I find a good jump, then I will repeat at that jump distance, and the nearby jump distances, with 5-shot groups to verify accuracy and possibly further refine the jump distance.

I wish I lived in SW Colorado, too. Denver is now way too crowded for me. I am on the south side of town, and shoot at a range near Ft. Collins. Anything closer is private, or limited to 100 yards, or has poor facilities for serious load testing, or has been plowed under for townhomes, etc. Meaning I have to slog my way across town, usually through substantial traffic to shoot. When I retire in 5 years, "I am so out of here."

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As promised, here is the jump test data. I am not sure how good it is. It was very windy, today, 20MPH, but relatively steady. The wind reduces my confidence in this data. These are 3-shot groups, shot at 100 yards. (the plan is, once I find a good jump distance, I will refine with 5-shot groups).

Two different jump distances each produced .75" groups. But, those were not consecutive jump distances. Is that normal? Does jump distance have nodes? I might have to reshoot, but I am out of Retumbo, with none to be found anywhere, so it will be awhile.

[Linked Image]


This is pretty far off the original topic, so i will start a new post.

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Looks a lot like what I got with the same powder/bullet combo in my EW... IMR 7828 brought me considerable consistency with the 120TSX / 127LRX. . Fortunately I have 6+ lbs of my 8lb keg of Retumbo. Found it to deliver consistent sub 1/2" groups with the 140gr class C&C bullets, but the Barnes mono even though lighter gives consistent 100% penetration on elk.

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I am a big fan of a light-for-caliber mono bullet, shot real fast for game.

Unless I get lucky and fall into a pile of Retumbo to finish the current load development, next range trip will be with IMR7828SSC.

With IMR7828SSC, I'll start with the TSX 120gn, and will try Hammer 117gn "Sledge Hammer" bullets with it, too. The Hammer bullets are monolithic bullet, reportedly of a softer copper alloy than what Barnes uses. Reputation is that they are easy to get to shoot well.

Hesp - Can you suggest a starting powder charge of 7828 for 120gn Barnes TSX bullets?

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I have never tried the Hammer bullets because of their higher cost but would be interesting to hear if they were less finicky with regard to powders. You don't use that many hunting so cost is not that big of a deal if looked at that way. When Barnes made the "X" bullet many shooters complained they were to soft & left excessive copper behind. Wonder if Hammers are that way? Any way my EW 264 loves the 120TSX/127gr LRX & IMR 7828. Little tiny groups & I can smack my 522yd target every time . Talked to a Barnes tec advisor awhile back & he said they got outstanding accuracy in the 264 with Rel 22 . Trouble is velocity would be well below the capability of the 264. As an example in my 6.5-06 E.R. Shaw stainless 24" Bbl 1/8 twist using the Barnes 120gr TSX & IMR-4350 I get 3277fps & tiny groups consistently.

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Have you shot the 127 gr LRX yet?

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